Lucy Spraggan opens up on suicide for new song: 'If you don't get help, it's fatal'

The X Factor star has released her newest song Dear You, which features heartwrenching lyrics about depression and suicide and an equally devastating video starring This Is England's Thomas Turgoose.

Lucy sings letters to a long-lost friend as she attempts to discuss her mental health issues, but soon discovers that he has also battled demons.

Speaking to the Daily Star Online, Lucy told us: "I knew I wanted to write about mental health but I didn't have it laid out in my head, I just started writing the letters as if it were me writing letters to someone. I didn't know how I wanted it to end, but I wanted people to feel something. What I wanted from this song was to make people reach out and actively think 'I need to speak to someone'."

The end of the song features a heartbreaking twist – that the friend in the song took his own life.

GETTY

HONESTY: Lucy delved into mental health for her new material

YOUTUBE

HEARTBREAKING: Dear You's video stars Thomas Turgoose

“People have said it's inspired them to sort out the problems they have, which is incredible”

Lucy Spraggan

Lucy explained: "It was kind of just honest. I knew in the end of the song they could end up meeting and having a great time, but that's not the reality of depression. The reality of it is if you don't reach out or seek help, it's fatal."

The 25-year-old has spoke out about her own mental health, revealing she suffers from depression, anxiety and paranoia.

When asked whether it was difficult opening up, the Tea and Toast singer said: "Not really. Being completely honest is the only way you can discuss things like that, I think. I now care a bit less about what people say about me and I'd rather say exactly what I think, and make some other people think 'I feel like that too'. I read comments when you talk about mental health, and there'll always be those trolls who are like 'oh, sob story', and I'm like, 'No, I wanted to kill myself, it's not fun and games'.

SYCO/ITV

INSTANT FAME: Lucy was one of the frontrunners of the X Factor in 2012

INSTAGRAM

OPENING UP: Lucy has suffered with depression and anxietyRelated videos

"I have actively only seen one bad comment. People have been really great, they've taken something from it. The best thing for me is that people have said it's inspired them to sort out the problems they have, which is incredible."

Lucy, who married gorgeous wife Georgina Gordon earlier this year, shot to fame on The X Factor in 2012, which she was forced to pull out of due to illness.

While her anxiety was triggered when people stared at her in the streets, Lucy doesn't regret going on the ITV talent show.

She told us: "I don't regret it, I don't really regret anything because there's no point. I respect the experience a lot, none of my friends and family have ever been through anything like that. It's kind of a blessing, because I've learned a lot about people and how the public are. It was all just a positive experience, mostly. The public are lovely and I got a lot of support. The only reason I wouldn't go back on is because of the stigma within the music industry. It's like you've got a big X Factor medallion around your neck and people won't touch you with a bargepole.

Reality stars: Then and Now

Have you forgot how some of your favourite reality stars looked back in series 1? From Lauren Goodger's extreme weight loss to Vicky Pattison's new glam look, see how stardom has changed these stars.

1 / 21

Getty Images

Snooki from Jersey Shore in 2009 and 2018

"People are associating me less with the X Factor, but I think that's just through time. I do all these festivals and tour dates that regular musicians do, and not necessarily try and sell things to magazines or try to stay in the celeb world. That doesn't suit me very well and the toll it takes on your mental health is exceptional, I don't know how anyone stays in that world for that long."

So does that mean Lucy would never make a return to reality TV?

The singer said: "I think after working quite hard to stay away from reality TV, I don't know. But I'd love to go on something like The Island With Bear Grylls. Maybe I'm A Celeb in the future. I love that sort of thing because it's a bit of a challenge. I don't think I'd ever go on Big Brother unless I had a big tax bill or something.

Dear You is available to download and stream now.

If you are affected by these issues, call Samaritans on 116 123 or emailjo@samaritans.org.